If you want people to listen to you seriously and respect you, you need to address those aspects of your personality that are tarnishing your image. Here are five habits you can change to regain your lost respect and become an example for others.

Habits That Kill Your Self-Respect and Value: A person is not identified by their clothes, but by their behavior and their habits. Often, we make some small mistakes or adopt habits in our daily life, which we ourselves are not aware of, but they gradually reduce our 'value' in the society and workplace. If you want people to listen to you seriously and respect you, then you will have to pay attention to those aspects of your personality which are spoiling your image.

Here are 5 such habits, by changing which you can regain your lost respect and become an example for others.

1. The Habit of Excessive Joking:
Humor is a part of life and brightens the atmosphere, but it has its limits. If you start joking around every serious topic or discussion, people consider you "non-serious." Especially in the office or in meetings, this habit of yours presents you as a weak personality. People stop seeking important advice from you because they think you'll dismiss everything lightly.

Improvement: Joke, but be mindful of the time and place. Show your wit in serious discussions.

2. Disregarding the Value of Time:
A person who doesn't understand the value of time can never become great in the eyes of others. Whether it's an office deadline or a promise to meet someone, if you're always late, you send the message that you don't value the other person's time. Gradually, people stop trusting you and you're seen as irresponsible.

Improvement: Be punctual. Completing tasks on time increases your credibility exponentially.

3. Inconsistency in Thought:
The hallmark of a strong personality is their "word of mouth." People rarely respect those who say one thing in the morning and then retract their words in the evening. If you repeatedly change your opinion or change your decisions under the influence of others, you lose your standing. People begin to consider you a "bottomless vessel."

Correction: Think before you speak and once you have made a decision, stick to it.

4. Being a Poor Listener:
Most people listen only to speak, not to understand. If you interrupt others before they're finished or ignore their words, you make them feel disrespected. Communication should always be a two-way street. Ignoring others reflects your arrogance or ignorance.

Improvement: Become an 'Active Listener.' When you listen carefully to others, they feel respected and they respect you in return.

5. Negative Body Language:
Avoiding eye contact during a conversation, excessive hand and leg movements, hunching your shoulders, or acting nervous all indicate a lack of confidence. A confident person's body language is calm and steady. If your body language lacks confidence, people will not believe what you say.

Solution: Maintain eye contact while talking, stand straight and keep a gentle smile on your face.

Remember that respect is earned, not demanded. Your habits determine whether people will stand up when you enter a room or ignore you. If you start today and abandon these five negative habits and improve your behavior with confidence, you will not only regain your lost respect, but people will also start citing you as an example.

PC:HindiNews18